Rifle

ABSTRACT

A rifle comprises a rifle barrel having a muzzle end and a breech end having a substantially tapered surface tapering toward the breech end as it extends radially outward. The breech end also has an externally threaded hollow cylindrical axial projection adapted to be threadedly coupled in the internally threaded firing chamber of the receiver of the rifle. This permits different caliber rifle barrels to be removably mounted on the same receiver.

United States Patent [1 1 McClure May 20, 1975 [54] RIFLE 3,731,418 5/1973 Birkenhagen et al. 42/75 B 75 Inventor: Samuel A. McClure Decatur, Ill. 1 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization, Assistant c Jordan New York, a P Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Daniel Jay Tick interest [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A rifle comprises a rifle barrel having a muzzle end and a breech end having a substantially tapered surface tapering toward the breech end as it extends radi- [52] U.S. Cl. 42/75 B y Outward The breech end also has an externally 51 1m.c|. F41c27/00 h ddh n l d d 58] Field of Search 42/75 B t rea e 0 0w Gym "F to be threadedly coupled in the internally threaded fir- 56 R f Cit d ing chamber of the receiver of the rifle. This permits 1 e erences e different caliber rifle barrels to be removably mounted UNITED STATES PATENTS on the same receiver. 882,562 3/1908 Hepburn 42/75 B 3,464,136 9/1969 Wilhelm 42 75 B 1 Clalm, 3 Drawmg Figures 6 8 7 l l t l RIFLE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rifle.

Objects of the inventions are to provide a rifle of simple structure which utilizes selected different caliber rifle barrels to be utilized with the same stock, which barrels may be coupled to the stock with simplicity, facility, rapidity and convenience.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view, partly in section, of part of the rifle of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section, taken along the lines IIII of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view, partly in section, of some of the parts of FIG. 1, disassembled.

In the Figures, the same components are identified by the same reference numerals.

The rifle of the invention has a receiver 1 (FIGS. 1 and 3) having an internally threaded firing chamber 2 (FIG. 3) and a substantially planar end surface 3 (FIG. 3). The firing chamber 2 opens into the end surface 3, as shown in FIG. 3.

In accordance with the invention, a rifle barrel 4 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), which has a muzzle end (not shown in the Figures), has a breech end 5 (FIGS. 1 and 3), opposite the muzzle end. The breech end 5 of the rifle barrel has a substantially tapered surface 6 (FIGS. 1 and 3) tapering toward the breech end of the barrel as it extends radially outward. The breech end 5 of the barrel also has an externally threaded hollow cylindrical axial projection 7 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

The projection 7 of the breech end 5 of the rifle barrel 4 is adapted to be threadedly coupled in the firing chamber 2, thereby permitting different caliber rifle barrels to be removably mounted on the same receiver 1 and stock.

In accordance with the invention, a split ring 8 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is adapted to be mounted on the projection 7 of the rifle barrel 4. The split ring 8 is interposed between and abuts the surface 6 of the rifle barre] 4 and the end surface 3 of the receiver 1, as shown in FIG. 1, thereby aligning the barrel in the receiver.

As shown in FIG. 1, one axial surface 9 of the split ring 8 is tapered in correspondence with the surface 6 of the rifle barrel 4. The other axial surface 10 of the split ring 8 is substantially planar in correspondence with the planar surface 3 of the receiver 1, as shown in FIG. 1. A bolt 11 may be utilized to secure the free ends 12 and 13 of the split ring 8 to each other, as shown in FIG. 2, to tighten the split ring in position.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A rifle having a receiver having an internally threaded firing chamber and a substantially planar end surface, the firing chamber opening into the end surface, said rifle comprising a rifle barrel having a muzzle end and a breech end having a substantially tapered surface tapering toward the breech end as it extends radially outward and an externally threaded hollow cylindrical axial projection adapted to be threadedly coupled in the firing chamber thereby permitting different caliber rifle barrels to be removably mounted on the same receiver; and

a split ring adapted to be mounted on the projection of the rifle barrel and interposed between and abutting the breech end of the rifle barrel and the end surface of the receiver thereby aligning the barrel in the receiver. one axial surface of the split ring being tapered in correspondence with the breech end of the rifle barrel and the other axial surface of the split ring being substantially planar in correspondence with the planar surface of the receiver, the split ring having a smooth inner surface, and further comprising bolt means for securing the free ends of the split ring to each other to tighten the split ring in position. 

1. A rifle having a receiver having an internally threaded firing chamber and a substantially planar end surface, the firing chamber opening into the end surface, said rifle comprising A RIFLE BARREL HAVING A MUZZLE END AND A BREECH END HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY TAPERED SURFACE TAPERING TOWARD THE BREECH END AS IT EXTENDS RADIALLY OUTWARD AND AN EXTERNALLY THREADED HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL AXIAL PROJECTION ADAPTED TO BE THREADEDLY COUPLED IN THE FIRING CHAMBER THEREBY PERMITTING DIFFERENT CALIBER RIFLE BARRELS TO BE REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE SAME RECEIVER; AND A SPLIT RING ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE PROJECTION OF THE RIFLE BARREL AND INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND ABUTTING THE BREECH END OF THE RIFLE BARREL AND THE END SURFACE OF THE RECEIVER THEREBY ALIGNING THE BARREL IN THE RECEIVER, ONE AXIAL SURFACE OF THE SPLIT RING BEING TAPERED IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE BREECH END OF THE RIFLE BARREL AND THE OTHER AXIAL SURFACE OF THE SPLIT RING BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE PLANAR SURFACE OF THE RECEIVER, THE SPLIT RING HAVING A SMOOTH INNER SURFACE, AND FURTHER COMPRISING BOLT MEANS FOR SECURING THE FREE ENDS OF THE SPLIT RING TO EACH OTHER TO TIGHTEN THE SPLIT RING IN POSITION. 